Prospects Remain For Deeper Rift In Filipino Army

August 29, 1987|By SETH MYDANS, The New York Times

MANILA, Philippines -- A rebellion by disaffected soldiers on Friday reflects a deep discontent within the military that has erupted in a series of threats and coup attempts throughout the tenure of President Corazon Aquino.

It demonstrates the difficulty the nation has faced in subordinating the armed forces to civilian control after 15 years of martial rule under Ferdinand Marcos, followed by a military revolt that ousted him and received worldwide acclaim.

The fact that the bulk of the armed forces supported the government Friday, despite any discontent the members might share with the rebels, was a signal of a basic acceptance of civilian rule.

But after the bloodshed of Friday, the possibility remained of even deeper rifts within a divided armed forces.

Ever since the revolt in February 1986 that helped boost Aquino to power, elements in the military have been restive, seeking greater political influence and complaining that they are not respected by the government.

Friday`s events, in which Philippine soldiers engaged in serious exchanges of fire for the first time, were seen as a turning point.

``The myth is gone -- the myth that soldiers won`t shoot at soldiers,`` said a woman who watched the fighting on Friday at Camp Aguinaldo, the armed forces headquarters.

In a constitutional plebiscite last February, the armed forces went against a nationwide trend and voted against a charter that was viewed as a symbol of Aquino`s rule.

On Friday, for the first time, the military as a whole demonstrated that although many members may be unhappy with her government, they were prepared to die defending it.

The perspectives of the mutineers are narrow.

Men like Col. Gregorio Honasan, who has led several moves against the government, including the current rebellion, have little to say about large ideals like democracy or about nation-building.

They speak of weak military and civilian leadership and of their perception that the government is soft on communist rebels while failing to respect its armed forces.

Complaints are aimed not only at Aquino, but at the military leadership of Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, who foiled previous coup attempts, and of Defense Secretary Rafael Ileto, who has criticized the armed forces as being poorly trained and lazy.

The response of Aquino and Ramos, the armed forces chief of staff, showed a new toughness with their opponents in the military that could, ironically, result in growing support within the ranks.

Both have been viewed by soldiers and civilians as somewhat weak and indecisive, and there seems to be a hunger for strong leadership in a nation that has so far not realized the high hopes of February 1986.

In the past, mutineers have been treated gently in the apparent fear that strong moves would draw a backlash within the military. Honasan, rather than being punished after a series of coup threats last fall, was reassigned from Manila to a military training camp in central Luzon, from which he drew the bulk of his supporters during this rebellion.

But the absence of broader support within the armed forces may be a vindication of the policy enunciated by Ileto of tightening the grip on malcontents slowly in the hope that their cause and their support would slowly fade.

A question mark in the day`s events was the possible role of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, who has had a paternal relationship with Honasan, his chief of security before Enrile was dismissed as defense minister.

Though Enrile may not have been directly involved in the revolt, he could have been in a position to lead a junta if it had succeeded.

Enrile could not be reached throughout the day.

The events appeared to show a disintegration in the tightknit group of officers, who, along with Enrile, had planned a coup against Marcos -- the discovery of which had triggered the February 1986 revolt.

Though some members of that original group of reformist officers joined Honasan as leaders of Friday`s mutiny, some prominent members who the rebels had said were taking part apparently did not.